Change image of Judiciary, Sakala urges new judges

Change image of Judiciary, Sakala urges new judges
By Bright Mukwasa
Sat 31 Dec. 2011, 13:59 CAT

CHIEF Justice Ernest Sakala has urged newly-appointed judges and magistrates to change the negative image of the Judiciary. According to a statement issued in Lusaka by the judiciary public relations officer Terry Musonda, justice Sakala called on adjudicators to prove that the Judiciary was capable of managing its own affairs.

He said judges and magistrates should not delay judgments to allay the negative perception that the public holds against the Judiciary.

"The Honourable Chief Justice Sakala advised the newly-appointed honourable judges and magistrates not to become the reason for criticism due to work culture that would lead to delaying judgments adding that they need to make a positive contribution and help change the perception," Musonda stated.

"The Honourable Chief Justice strongly urged all to come on board with positive attitudes towards work so as to help change the old image society holds of the Judiciary."

Musonda stated that Justice Sakala hoped that the joining to the bench of new judges and magistrates would significantly help reduce the backlog of cases countrywide.

"The public out there has great expectations from you, that you will help reduce the back log. Thus, as you conduct your work, always remember the responsibility you carry and make the difference," said the Justice Sakala.

He was speaking at the induction course for the newly appointed judges and magistrates held at Protea Hotel, Chisamba from 27th to 30th December, 2011.

Musonda stated that Justice Sakala reminded adjudicators that the bench survived on honesty and integrity, which should always remain a solid foundation upon which adjudicators should deal with every day business in court and outside court.

And President Michael Sata on Thursday urged newly-appointed Solicitor General Musa Mwenye, Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito and Attorney General Mumba Malila to ensure that they revamp the legal aid system.

During the swearing in of Mwenye at State House, President Sata, who spent over one month in jail on a non-bailable charge of theft of motor vehicle that was later dropped during the late Levy Mwanawasa era, said many prisoners had no legal representation.

"I was in prison for 40 days and the majority of people in prison are poor people. Poor people have no representation. Let us revamp the legal aid system and let us also create a new office of district attorney so that people can be properly prosecuted," President Sata said.

"The Legal Aid, look at the conditions of service and come to us. The 40 days I stayed in prison, poor people don't even know what legal representation is. I stayed 40 days because I had a very effective legal representation; I even managed to get bail on a matter which they said there is no bail. My lawyers went around and got a constitutional bail."

And outgoing Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Nicola Girasoli said Zambia still has a long way to go in ensuring equality of all citizens before the law.

He said equality of all citizens before the law was an aspect that needed urgent attention in the country.

Archbishop Girasoli said during his six-year tenure in Zambia, he had visited prisons and most cases for people in remand were not even considered.

"And unfortunately, people who have never been involved in any kind of judiciary process don't feel this problem but I have seen a very large part of society, a very much strong demand for this equality," said Archbishop Girasoli.

"It's only those with money that have good access to justice and we have thousands of people who have cases that have not been dealt, with some of them in prison while those with money are free on bail. But also in the civil judiciary system, there are a lot of people that really don't see their cases solved. When they start a case, maybe it may take years, equality before the law is a very strong human right because this is what protects the minority. If you don't feel equal before the law, you are second class citizens,".